Pro-Ject Releases MC Step-Up Box’s – Quick Look
All Image Credit: Pro-Ject
Pro-Ject has announced the company’s first ever step-up transformers, the MC Step Up Box DS3 B and the MC Step Up Box S3. Both solutions are passive designs used to step-up the low voltage outputs of MC cartridges to similar levels of MM cartridges. This enables the use of a standard MM phono input to accept MC cartridge outputs. Being passive they create less noise and are simpler to use than an active step-up head amplifier. Some also claim that transformers provide a “cleaner” sound than active step-up amplifiers.
The MC Step Up Box DS3 B fully supports both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA I/O connectivity, using high quality Lundahl LL1678 transformers. It offers front panel selection of either 24dB or 30dB transformer step-up ratios, plus input and output selection.
Appropriate selection of cartridge impedance matching is achieved using the rear panel push button.
The MC Step Up Box S3 is a more cost-effective MC solution providing similar performance to its big brother with slightly lower gains of 21dB and 24dB created by a fixed transformer step-up ratio of 1:16, but only offers unbalanced RCA I/O.
Cartridge impedance matching and associated fixed gains are selected using the rear panel push button.
Both designs are made in Europe and are available in either black or silver finishes.
Features At A Glance:
- Step Up Box DS3 B:
- Lundahl LL1678 high quality audio transformer
- Balanced in and outputs
- Fully passive signal path without power supply
- Selectable transformer ratio 24 / 30dB
- Transformer with mu metal shielding
- Dual mono design principle
- Low noise
- Highest channel separation
- Gold plated RCA terminals
- Solid aluminum casing protects against interference
- Step Up Box S3:
- Fully passive signal path without power supply
- Low noise
- 1:16 transformer ratio
- Transformer with mu metal shielding
- Input impedance matching 10 or 100 Ohms
- Dual mono design principle
- Highest channel separation
- Gold plated RCA terminals
- Solid aluminum casing protects against interference
Specifications:
- Step Up Box DS3 B:
- Frequency response: 10Hz – 55kHz:+/- 1dB
- Gain 24dB/30dB
- MC Impedance: 5-150 Ohms
- Recommended load: 47 kOhm / 100pF
- Input MC: 1x pair XLR and RCA phono sockets
- Output: 1x pair XLR and RCA phono sockets
- Dimensions WxHxD: 206 x 79 x 197 (209 with sockets) mm
- Weight: 1,740 g
- Step Up Box S3:
- Frequency response: 10Hz – 55kHz:+/- 1dB
- Gain at 10-40 Ohm: 21dB at 1kHz
- Gain at 40-150 Ohm: 24dB at 1kHz
- Recommended load: 47 kOhm / 100pF
- Input MC: 1x pair RCA phono sockets
- Output: 1x pair RCA phono sockets
- Dimensions WxHxD: 206 x 65 x 153 (164 with sockets) mm
- Weight: 940g
Availability:
Late November 2023
MSRP (DS3 B/S3):
- US: $1,099/$549
- UK: £799/£399
- EU: €899/€499
For more information visit the Pro-Ject web site:
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